2021 ES Interior

Lexus knows how to build a good interior, and while the design might not be as sleek or good looking as its German or Swedish rivals, it's still a luxurious place to be in, and the material choices and build quality is impressive. We think the sweeping central dash design looks a bit dated, and the stalks jutting out of the cowl covering the driver cluster is an odd choice, but we can't fault much more than that, especially when you consider the value you're getting for your money. Passenger space is excellent and every model comes with dual-zone climate control, and power-adjustable front seats. Upper trims feature classy semi-aniline leather upholstery.

2021 ES Interior Photos

Seating and Interior Space

Comfort is the name of the game, and the Lexus ES, more so than most of its rivals, focuses on passenger space. Getting in and out of the ES is easy; there isn't a dramatically sloping roofline or an impractically low ride height to contend with. Once inside, the cabin feels spacious, and that's because it is. In the front, six-footers will enjoy an abundance of space and a generous 42.4 inches of legroom. At the back, there is a similarly generous 39.2 inches of legroom, more than you'd get in the 5 Series or A6, and headroom is also more than enough for the average-sized adult. The front seats are exceedingly comfortable and offer 10-way power adjustability, including lumbar support. Upper trims have a 14-way power driver's seat.

2021 Lexus ES Interior Dimensions:

Interior Colors and Materials

While the top trims may impress more with their materials, every Lexus ES makes a good impression with excellent build quality and sturdy switchgear that feels like it will last for a long time. The base model features perforated NuLuxe, essentially a high-quality synthetic leather. This material comes in colors like Chateau, Flaxen, and Black. All of these are complemented by Striated Black Film trim. For an added cost, Linear Dark Mocha wood trim and Linear Espresso wood trim are available. The F Sport gets NuLuxe upholstery in either black or Circuit Red, both paired with Hadori Aluminum trim. In Luxury guise, the ES gets genuine leather upholstery in the same colors as the base trim, although wood trim is standard here. Finally, the Ultra Luxury gets semi-aniline leather upholstery and adds the option of a Rich Cream color scheme. A wood- and leather-trimmed steering wheel is standard on the Ultra Luxury.

2021 ES Trunk and Cargo Space

The tale of the Lexus ES' cargo space is bittersweet. This Japanese executive is generous when it comes to trunk space and offers 13.9 cubic feet for all models, hybrid included. That is almost the same as the 14 cubic feet you get in the BMW 5 Series and just a bit more than the 13.7 cubes in the Audi A6. This is enough space to pack the baby stroller and your set of golf clubs. Unfortunately, the rear seats do not fold flat, putting the ES at a great disadvantage. Lexus has included a pass-through for longer objects, but that is still limiting.

On the inside, small-item storage is decent. You get all your standard storage solutions, such as a glove box, door pockets, and a center console storage bin, but Lexus also includes handy tricks such as rear coat hooks and front seatback pockets.

2021 Lexus ES Trunk and Cargo Space Photos

2021 Lexus ES Cargo Dimensions:

2021 ES Infotainment and Features

Features

Most people consider brand image when shopping in this class, which means four circles and three-pointed stars hold more value than other brand logos. While Lexus has been around for decades and is considered by most to be a luxury vehicle, it doesn't hold the brand value of its German contenders; that's why it still emphasized value for money, and nowhere else is that more apparent than in the features list. Even at its base price, the ES comes standard with features such as a power moonroof, LED headlights, 10-way power front seats, automatic dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, the obligatory rearview camera, push-button ignition, and driver assistance features such as lane tracing assist, road sign assist, and pedestrian detection. The Luxury grade adds features such as a 14-way power-adjustable driver's seat along with heated and ventilated front seats, while the F Sport gets a performance suspension and sport bucket seats. The Ultra Luxury trim boasts a surround-view monitor and rear-door sunshades.

Infotainment

The entry-level infotainment system in the Lexus ES sedan is a bit underwhelming, seeing as it comes with a relatively small eight-inch display, but still, you get all the conveniences afforded to competitors. These include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, Amazon Alexa compatibility, a remote touch interface, Bluetooth streaming, and a 10-speaker sound system. All models benefit from a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Ultra Luxury grade adds navigation, a larger 12-3-inch color display, and navigation. On all models, a powerful Mark Levinson 17-speaker sound system with 1,800 watts of power can be optionally equipped. We recommend listening to Alright by Supergrass at full blast. The Lexus infotainment interface has never been our first choice for user-friendliness and we did find that the trackpad controller was a bit fussy to use, making it easy to skip over menu options. You'll need much more than a quick test drive to get used to this system.